He was eight when we rescued her, a tiny slip of a boy. She was all muscle, mainly from the herding dog in her. This combo made for some harrowing trips down the stairs as she rushed to precede him, or jostled him to the left or right to herd in proper fashion, barking bossily along the way.

Since day one, she has treated him as her charge, unable to believe a boy that size should hold sway over her. She has adopted my baby as hers, rivaling me in fierce protectiveness and motherly love.

He is the only one in our family who endures Bailey’s wet licks to his nose and mouth. His feet and hands are equally as susceptible. It seems she just loves the salty taste of pure boy, overlooking some of the less appetizing aromas from sweaty gym shoes and the like.

I see him getting older. I’m not sure Bailey does, which is probably just as well. One of us should be able to hold on to the little boy version of him.

She is never happier than when he has friends over and a ball is bouncing in the driveway, as she barks and runs between them. He forgives her the many chewed soccer balls, lost baskets due to her furry body running interference and late-night requests to go outside.

In quieter moments, I often find them using each other as pillows, his head on her belly as he reads, her head on his leg as they stretch out on the couch.

It makes me smile to see two of my best loved so enamored of each other.

Related

Post navigation

I be one of the lucky ones. Jake the Dog splashes kisses in my face when unleash expect it, generally when I’m wiping his feet, er, paws. I don’t mind it and I’m no child (my wife might think otherwise as many wives do about their husbands, but those ‘kind’ words roll off my back like water on a duck…mist husbands feel that way, too). He’s a bl lab/gr Dane mix, our third rescue and while slowing at 12, he’s a vital part of our lives. Dogs are wonderful for kids, all kids, the little kind and the big kind. Nice story

I get equally as choked up, given I’m a bleeding heart for dogs anyway:). I can’t stand the thought that she’ll leave us someday. But you’re right–they will grow older together. And hopefully, have each other until he is ready to go to college.